African diplomats among spectators of Ramsis II sun alignment

CAIRO – 23 February 2019: Several African diplomats watched Friday the sun alignment on the statute of Pharaoh Ramses II at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple, as many spectators gathered to attend the phenomenon.

Among visitors who attended the event were 22 African ambassadors and diplomats, along with their relatives, watched the sun alignment. President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi assumed this month the chairmanship of the African Union for one year term, during which he seeks to boost relations between Cairo and countries of the continent.

Egypt is also preparing to host the African Cup of Nations football tournament this summer.

The 201-minute sun alignment phenomenon happens twice per year on the anniversaries of Paranoiac king’s birthday and coronation on October 22 and February 22 respectively.

The sun illuminates four statues of King Ramses II seated at the top of the temple, symbolize the facade of the temple, which resembles an edifice.

Among the visitors of the archaeological site were Ministers of Antiquities, Tourism, Investments, Culture and Communication Khaled Anani, Rania Mashat, Sahr Nasr, Inas Abdel-Dayem, Amr Talaat respectively, said a statement by the Ministry of Antiquities.

The ministry announced that a total of 6,500 tourists watched the sun alignment at the face of Ramses II status at Abu Simbel temple